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Mining Industries on the Monaro

BUSHY HILL.

In 1897 a sensation was caused in Cooma by the discovery of gold at a spot known as Bushy Hill, situated about 2 miles east of the town and 1 1/2 miles from the Railway Station. For a year there was a period of wild excitement. Almost every one in the district had an interest in one or other of the leases, and each one who had a fractional share in a block expected to quickly make a fortune. The hill itself is about one mile long, with a mean width of 15 chains.

A report by Mr. W. H. J. Slee, Chief Inspector of Mines, under date 9th March, 1898, states 'The striking of payable gold by Perkins, Solomon and party caused a great rush: some twenty different parties made applications for Gold Leases, totalling over 100 acres. But so far the principal mines which can be classed as payable or with very promising indications are Perkins, Solomon and party's prospecting claim, and adjoining Lease No. I North, Blake and Party and McKenzie and party".

In 1899 work was at a standstill. From Willmott & Party's claim at the 130 foot level the gold obtained from 19 cwt. of picked ore amounted to about 1800 pounds In addition, there had been sent from the field to Dapto, about 400 tons of ore for 1000 oz. of gold. The history of the field is one of spasmodic work, whilst friction amongst the shareholders of the various leases, the refractory nature of the ore, and the difficulty of successfully coping with the water which was met with at depth, were factors which contributed to the non-development of the field.

Efforts were made to consolidate the various leases into a company, to be known as the Bushy Hill Consolidated Gold Mines.

The actual Lessees and the areas held were as follows: -

        No        Lessee                              a. r. p.
GL     1     Pollock and party ...            4 0 25
GL     2     Maclue and party . . .        10 0 0
GL     4     J. McDonald .......             10 0 0
GL     5     M. Blake and party             5 2 38
Gl     7      Kaufline and party              8 0 0
GL     9     Sullivan and party              5 0 32
GL     10     C. Solomon and party        2 2 34
GL     11     J. Harris ..........               2 0 0
GL     12     P. Bradley and party .        8 1 36
GL     13     G. Power .........               2 0 0
GL     14     Willmott and party            2 0 0
GL     17     McManus and party           4 0 0
GL     18     H. J. Burton ........            7 2 8
GL     20     R. S. Ambrey ......             6 0 0
GL     21     Sullivan and McManus        6 0 0
GL     23     P. D. Murphy ......             4 2 23
GL     24     T. Stroud and party . .     10 0 0
GL     25     E. Hewison ........             4 0 0
GL     26     H. Scott ..........              4 8 30
GL     27     P. D. Murphy ......            4 0 0
GL     28     M. Moore .........              4 0 0
GL     29     Dawson and party . .       10 0 0
GL     30     W. Ryrie ..........              8 0 0
                G. D. Cochran .....            8 3 25
                W. Flakelar .......             10 0 0
                R. J. Hall .........               6 0 0
                H. Stewart and Staples     3 0 0
                Solomon and party ...       3 3 34

making a total of 28 blocks containing an area of about 153 acres.

No. I North, afterwards known as "The Birthday," sent away between March, 1898, and November, 1899, 320 tons, 19 cwt. 3 qrts. 11 lbs. of stone, yielding 19 cwt. of ore, producing 1800 pounds.

Blake and party, afterwards called "The Coronation," sent away various parcels, which were paid at from 5 oz. I I dwts. 14 grs. down to I oz. 10 dwts per ton.

Perkins and party, the prospectors, from 4 tons, got a return of 13 ozs. 4 dwts. 22 grs.

No. 2 South received I oz. 7 dwts. from 6 tons sent to Dapto.

The proposed consolidation was never consummated. A good offer had been received, but the exorbitant prices asked by some lessees was a bar to the scheme being carried out.

Transcribed by Pattrick Mould in 2003, from the book "Back to Cooma' Celebrations" page 51